Tony, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far. After training in theater production and arts management, I became a Certified Yoga Therapist in 1997. When I got engaged, I latched on to the idea of becoming what I thought a “HUSBAND” and “Provider’ meant, so, I said “I’m *tired* of being a starving artist, I wanna make some MONEY.” So, I got into real estate. I became a rental agent, then a broker, then a Managing Broker. I ranked within the top 5% of Realtors nationwide — but I wasn’t happy. I admitted to myself that I was happier as a starving artist.

I rode the real estate bubble until it burst. I found myself bringing in a tenth of my former income. Life became even more stressful. I found myself going through divorce, a repossession of my shiny SUV, and the foreclosure of my home. It was as if LIFE wiped the house of cards I’d built off of the table, forcing me to discover the foundation of my being. I felt like a dried up sponge — a shell of myself. I knew that I needed to lean into the things that brought any bit of love and joy to my being — it was for the survival of my spirit at this point — it was all I had left.

I returned to Yoga. I was invited by a long time mentor to a nude yoga class for small groups. This was a men’s group. Though nervous, I experienced the practice as a more nurturing, authentic practice that resonated with me. This yoga was stripped down very similarly to the way my life was stripped down… This yoga was less about showing my body to anyone else. Rather, it became more about me 8revealing myself to myself”, so that I could truly be seen. I experienced deep, deep healing from these practices and soon began offering coed, clothing optional yoga in 2006. I started the Nude Yoga Chicago Meetup that year. The group now has over 950 members and has employed several high quality teachers.

I continued to explore body/mind/spirit healing. I founded a medical cannabis clinic, The Society of Healing Arts Institute (SOHAI) www.SOHAI.org, in MI with my best friend, who ran the clinics day to day while I commuted every other weekend. I also became a seminary student at the Temple of Kriya yoga and became an ordained minister of empowerment. As I learned, I became more passionate about healing not only myself, but others. I obtained certification as a Kundalini and Tantra Yoga Teacher. I became a Certified Mediator and Conflict Resolution Specialist, I volunteered with the Cook County District Courts and successfully mediated numerous cases. I also obtained Certification as a Divorce Mediator from NorthWestern University.

I continued study with another mentor and became an Advanced Psychosomatic Character Therapist. I studied contemporary shamanism with several traditions and also became a Reiki Master Teacher. Most Recently, I graduated from the New School for Massage and Bodywork and became a Clinically Licensed Massage Therapist in 2017. At that time, I decided to take all of my healing practices and offer them through The Love Warrior — offering Yoga, Massage, and Psychosomatic (Body/Mind/Spirit) Therapy. It FINALLY all made sense!

I realize that our wounds become antennae for the wounds of others, and we can use them to heal. I LOVE the work that I do now! I teach, and heal and counsel and mediate and facilitate workshops and ceremonies in a practice which has become a form of contemporary shamanism.

My clients run the gamut of 12-year old to 80+ years old. My goal is with each client is to help them re-member their authentic self — their authentic ‘I Am’ consciousness expressed through mastery of self.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way? It has been a miraculous road! 10 years ago, as my home was foreclosing, and my car was repossessed, and my marriage falling apart, I would have NEVER dreamed that the process of my previous life ‘falling apart’ was really the beginning of my life falling together!

Today, I’ve started 3 businesses, own my house, vehicle and business studio while co-parenting and sharing equal custody of two beautiful kids!

I realize that I’m a better man for having gone through those trials — I am so honored to know that helping other ‘Love Warriors’ through their challenges and trials of life is part of my calling.

The Love Warrior & Nude Yoga Chicago – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition? We are known for our Shamanic Massage and Bodywork, Nude Yoga, Super Hero Yoga, Sacred Intimacy and Tantra and Psychosomatic Therapy.

I am most proud of creating paradigm shifts in individuals and communities by continuing to lead people to the super power of their heart. We create intimacy through safe vulnerability.

What is “success” or “successful” for you? Success is authentically putting my heart in my work. For as long as I’m alive, I want to shine a light in the dark. Everyone has genius and potential.

New week, new look. Here’s some inspiration from some of Chicago’s most gifted beauty professionals. View this post on Instagram Makeup...

Local StoriesSeptember 17, 2018

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